Sick airgun attacks on cats are on the rise according to a feline charity which is calling for a change in legislation on the sale and use of weapons.

A survey of 1,000 vets carried out by Cats Protection show more cats are being killed by air rifle users than 20 years ago.

The research showed 42% of vets in the Midlands said they had treated moggies shot by air-powered weapons in the past 12 months.

Alarmingly, only 57% of pets survived their injuries, leaving many owners heartbroken.

Just weeks ago the RSPCA appealed for witnesses when a tom was left with a broken leg after being the victim of a pot shot.

The animal was found by his owner with the injuries in Strathmore Road on April 26.

Last October Bookah, a black shorthair, lost an eye in a shooting in Sapcote, thought to have been at close range. An X-ray revealed a ruptured right eyeball and shrapnel from the pellets embedded in his skull.

His eye had to be removed and his owners were told the shrapnel may impact on his life span.

Many other attacks may go unnoticed as often cats who are injured crawl off to die leaving owners with no idea of what happened to them, believing them simply to be missing.

Cats Protection carried out the research to mark the 20 year anniversary of investigating the problem.

More than a quarter (28%) of people in the Midlands - the highest proportion in the UK - said they knew of cats in their neighbourhood that had been in shot while 63% of vets believe attacks are more frequent now than when they started practice.

Cats Protection now want the Government to make it a criminal offence in England and Wales to own an air rifle without a licence or permit.

Cats Protection’s advocacy manager Jacqui Cuff said: “We are calling for much stricter regulation on the ownership of airguns, as we strongly believe this will help to protect cats and other animals from these shocking attacks and avoid airguns falling into the wrong hands. We want to see England and Wales following the example of Scotland, where from next year it will be illegal to own an air gun without a licence.”

More than three-quarters (78%) of vets said airgun injuries were more frequently inflicted on cats than other types of animal.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, if someone is caught deliberately using an air weapon to injure an animal, they could face a £20,000 fine and/or up to six months in prison.